grad u atin'

For our most recent letterpress assignment, we needed to create postcards inspired by Globe (see two posts down) promoting an event. So, for my postcards, I created two different linoleum plates, one with pattern and one with typography. I utilized the typographic hierarchy that Globe regularly employed , moving type and bold, short words. The back of the postcard is all woodtype. I printed the woodtype on a Vandercook Universal Press, and the two linocuts...I printed on the etching press. I have a lot of trouble with the Vandercook, and I think right now its just because it's still not that familiar. I've been printing on the small etching presses for nearly four years now, so I have a good handle on regulating pressure and impression. I am pretty pleased with the end result, however Mary suggested I still print on the Vandercook to get a less inky blue/black typographic layer.

Globe Poster Printing

I meant to blog about this earlier, as always, things have been incredibly busy.

When I first moved to Baltimore four years ago, I heard about Globe printing. A mythical press deep in the heart of Charm City which produced showcards for soul, rhythm and blues, hip hop and rock artists since the 1920s. I've collected show posters for as long as I can remember, and was so excited to discover Globe's existence in my new backyard. They are known for their neon colors, bold systems of typographic hierarchy, rainbow rolls (yeah you know the split fountain) and moving type.

A few weeks ago in my letterpress class we took a field trip to the shop. What an awesome opportunity! So much history, so much woodtype, so many GIANT printing presses. Bob Cicero was incredibly knowledgeable, kind and gracious. He took us on a tour of the shop, told us how they used to do things in the old days, and explained a press 20 times bigger than I am. Sadly, Globe is closing it's doors. It is my most sincere hope that the Globe Collection is purchased and utalized by MICA and the letterpress community to preserve such a huge part of music + Baltimore legend. Think of how great that could be!

Read more about Globe in this excellent city paper issue.
Help pay Globe's rent and buy an awesome poster here.



Old School Commercial Press


Just hanging round the shop


Bob and Mary Mashburn describing the joys of rubylith


Printing is some serious Big Boy Shit.

does everything look better Letterpressed?

I'm taking Letterpress this semester with Typecast Press's very own Mary Mashburn.
Our first real assignment is to create business cards for a client (a classmate we don't know very well) as well as for ourselves.

I keep a good set of 'inspiration' files going on my computer, and a lot of images in the identity folder are of business cards. I really like these cards from A Friend of Mine, Nikolaus Schmidt, and Markus Moström.











Metallics, vibrant colors, and heavy stock. Please I wanna learn!